John C. Metz Jr., CEO, executive chef and co-founder of Sterling Hospitality, was named the Gold Plate Award winner by the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association (IFMA).

Metz is the second member of his family to receive an IFMA Silver Plate award, following in the footsteps of his father John C. Metz Sr., who received the award in 1979 in the foodservice management category. Recipients of the Silver Plate Award are then eligible to win that year's Gold Plate Award.

The Gold Plate award recipient was determined through secret ballot by a jury of past Silver Plate winners, national trade press editors, foodservice experts and the chairperson of the International Gold & Silver Plate Society.